Atrusca dumosae (agamic)

Atrusca dumosae Melika & Pujade-Villar, new species
Asexual female

[Photos of the gall appear on page 7 of the pdf]

Gall (Fig. 14). Galls are nearly spherical, slightly tapering at the base, monolocular, located usually on the underside of leaves, attached by a single fine point to the main vein. Young galls are greenish to yellowish; mature galls brownish tan or dark reddish brown, unspotted or heavily mottled with brownish purple. The surface of the gall smooth, only microscopically roughened, shiny, thin-walled, with radiating fine filaments, supporting the central larval chamber. Galls are 18-25 cm in diameter.

Biology. The asexual generation is only known, inducing galls on Quercus dumosa Nutt [this ID is likely mistaken; Quercus dumosa does not occur at the type locality, and similar galls have been observed on Quercus turbinella, which does]. (section Quercus of Quercus, white oaks), which is distributed only in California (USA) and Baja California Norte, Mexico (Govaerts & Frodin 1998). Galls were collected in late October and beginning of November. Adults emerged right after galls were collected. 

Etymology. The species is named after the host oak, Q. dumosa Nutt., it was found on. 

Distribution. Currently known from the type locality only: Mexico, Agua Amarilla, San Pedro Mártir, Baja California Norte [N 32°08´28´´ and E 115°56´08´´], 1729 m a.s.l. This is the first species from the genus Atrusca known from Baja California, Mexico.

HYMENOPTERA: New Atrusca gallwasp species from Baja California, Mexico (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini)